Kane on the Brink: England's Captain Chases Pele's Record in Tirana

Kane Closely Chasing Pelé's International Milestone

Harry Kane, England’s captain and all‑time top scorer, is poised to add another chapter to his legendary career as he stands on the cusp of matching one of football’s greatest icons: Pelé.

The English forward, carrying the hopes of his country, now needs just one goal against Albania at the Arena Kombetare on Sunday evening to push his international tally to 77—matching Pelé’s record with Brazil.

While Kane will be playing his 112th international, compared to Pelé’s 92 games to reach his number, England’s captain believes that rarely diminishes the magnitude of the achievement, nor the cumulative work that has brought him to this stage. The numbers Kane has posted for club and country cements him as one of the world’s top strikers of his era.

His greatest dream remains winning a major trophy with England, a feat he believes could open the door to winning football’s ultimate individual prize: the Ballon d’Or.

Eye-Popping Numbers in Germany

Since moving to Bayern Munich, Kane has delivered stellar form, with 23 goals in 17 games this season, underscoring his status among Europe’s elite. His front-page drought against Serbia in the latest 2-0 win raised questions, given his near‑automatic scoring rate.

Even though the Albania game is effectively a dead rubber, Kane treats it as a fresh occasion to achieve a historic feat. In remarks relayed by The Sun, he said: "To be in the company of a name like Pelé speaks for itself. Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the names mentioned alongside me or the achievements I’ve made. All I want is to keep moving toward the next target. I hope to score against Albania; it won’t equal Pelé, whose international career was a true source of inspiration. This shows how much I’ve evolved in my career."

He added: "If I score 100 goals this season but fail to win major trophies, the Ballon d’Or will be out of reach," he said, noting Haaland faces the same reality. You must win major trophies."

And it’s not all about individual numbers. Kane says Bayern’s current style keeps them among the Champions League contenders, and England remain among the favorites for Europe. With six weeks until the winter break, he’ll focus on every match and then prepare for the decisive phase of the season.

Kane knows that he wasn’t at his best during Euro 2024, a fact England’s current manager Thomas Tuchel—who coached him at Bayern during a back problem spell—will attest to.

Kane admitted, "There was a lot of talk about my physical condition before the last tournament. If I compare that to how I feel now, I’m definitely fitter and more focused. There were a few minor injuries before the end of the season, but getting to peak readiness at the right time is what matters, and we hope to make it happen this summer."

Albanian Memories and a Lesson from the Golden Generation

The Albania match will be a special occasion for English fans travelling to Tirana, as the previous meeting against the Albanian national team in March 2021 was played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions. Yet many still remember the funny scene in a 2001 match when British comedian Norman Wisdom—beloved in Albania—was paraded at halftime wearing a jersey split in two colors between the two sides.

That day, Beckham captained England to a 3-1 victory over Albania with goals from Owen, Scholes, and Cole. Yet England’s “Golden Generation” never got past the quarterfinals in a major tournament, something Kane has already surpassed three times with the current side.

Kane knows legendary status demands more than breaking records. After the Euro final heartbreak at Wembley in 2024, he believes real success lies in lifting the World Cup next year, or at least Euro 2028 on home soil.